Hi, I started out with a degree in Control Systems from Sheffield University, spent three years in industry before getting a research fellowship at Durham University, got a PhD and then got stuck in academia for about 30 years teaching control theory (all types), programming, distributed systems etc. I once worked in a physics group managing our university’s GridPP cluster. Finally managed to wriggle free and spent last 5 years as a senior control systems engineer in a robotics group working on huge robotic systems for nuclear fusion reactors of the future.

Spent many years distro-hopping (don’t we all?) – it’s great fun. The conclusion of my long but frantic search for my favourite distro was Antergos, which morphed into Endeavouros. In 2016 I came across a wonderful programming language called Julia and used it at work with great results. You can use LaTeX-like symbols as variables!

Now I’m retired I volunteered to support a small wetland trust Lavell’s Wetland Trust where I am trying to work out habitat management plans. To that end I am using PostgreSQL, QGIS, Maptiler and Julia to create a tool-set to make planning and scheduling a bit easier. Information such as habitat types, bird species, their inter-relationships, weather impacts, accessibility, work-party sizes etc. etc. Trying to predict what’s needed and when.

I own two motorcycles: An Aprilia Tuono 1000 v-twin (the “Factory” version) and a BMW R1200RS. I have done lots of touring, about 6 or 7 track days, some full-on motorcycle racing, some off-road experiences. I’ve been a biker for 50 years.

Editor: Is that enough?